Date of Award
1994
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Music
Abstract
British composer Keith Emerson (b. 1944) has composed for various mediums, which include piano, orchestra, and rock trio. A consistent level of musical awareness is manifested in all of these mediums, and a unique compositional style can be identified by studying the rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, and formal language of his music. The subject of this discussion is one representative large-scale work, Tarkus, as it appears on side one of the eponymous album recorded by the rock music trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer. The intent of this thesis is to define and document the compositional approaches keyboardist Keith Emerson took when writing the suite. Tarkus was found to abundantly involve harmonic and melodic intervals of a fourth, as well as ostinatos and compound meters.
Recommended Citation
Ford, Peter T., "The Compositional Style Of Keith Emerson In "Tarkus" (1971) For The Rock Music Trio Emerson, Lake And Palmer" (1994). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2087.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/2087